Neighborhood Watch

We live in a development of over 400 homes. We have a POA (Property Owner's Association) and a POA board of directors. We have a clubhouse, pool, and tennis courts. And we have a Neighborhood Watch.

Usually when I think about community service, I think about what I do through my church that serves the community. I've never really been one to be involved in civic organizations. My church involvement has kept me very busy, thankyouverymuch!

In the most recent newsletter, the chief Neighborhood Watch dude (for lack of a better title) said that if more people don't step up and volunteer, the NW will go the way of the dodo (my new favorite phrase). But I had actually been thinking about volunteering before that newsletter came.

Other than simply because it is community service and I feel that we all need to be service to our communities somehow, there are a couple other reasons why I feel I should volunteer. First, it would be a way to pray for my neighbors (all 400+ of them!). As I would be driving past each and every house, I would have the opportunity to pray as I drove by.

Second, it would also be a way to meet more neighbors. Frankly, that's been one of my frustrations since living here. I do not know any of my neighbors. I know them well enough to wave and maybe say hello when I'm out walking. But I don't know the names of any of my neighbors, other than what I read on their mailboxes. Where I grew up, we knew all of our neighbors and would even call them when we needed an egg or a cup of sugar. I hate not knowing my neighbors. (I've even thought of organizing a block party, but that's a whole other post!)

If I volunteer, I would have free training, and I would be able to pick the times that I "patrol." I'm sure I would be able to have Ladybug in the car with me, as the job would be to show presence and not necessarily confront.

What do y'all think? Have you ever been a part of a Neighborhood Watch? Should I step up and volunteer and help keep our community a safer place?